Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer

Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, a thermoplastic resin produced by the copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride. A rigid, heat-resistant, and chemical-resistant plastic, it is used in automobile parts, small appliances, and food-service trays.

Styrene is a clear liquid obtained by the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Maleic anhydride is a white solid obtained by the oxidation of benzene or butane. These two monomers can be mixed in a bulk process and induced to polymerize under the action of free-radical initiators. The result is a polymer with an alternating-block structure, in which styrene units and maleic anhydride units alternate along the polymer chain. The copolymer repeating unit can be represented as follows:

In practice, most of the copolymers contain about 5 to 20 percent maleic anydride, depending on the application, and some grades also contain small amounts of butadiene for better impact resistance.

This article was most recently revised and updated by William L. Hosch, Associate Editor.